‘Texas needed this’ – Claregalway woman’s joy at Democrat wins
Houston native Lauren Macaulay says there is fresh hope in her home state after Democrats won the governorship and a US Senate seat for the first time in decades.
“Everyone’s been very happy. I think it’s just a feeling of hope.” That is how Claregalway mother-of-two Lauren Macaulay described the mood back home in Houston as the results of Tuesday’s historic US midterm elections emerged.
Across America, supporters gathered at election-night watch parties as the results rolled in. Thousands of miles away, Lauren followed the drama from Claregalway as her home state underwent a major political shake-up.
“It’s a breath of fresh air,” she told the Galway City Tribune.
Democrat James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton to become the first Democrat elected to the US Senate from Texas since 1988, while Gina Hinojosa unseated Republican governor Greg Abbott.
The Texas results were part of a wider Democratic victory in Tuesday’s US midterm elections, which saw the party take control of both houses of Congress from President Donald Trump’s Republicans.
Hinojosa’s victory will give Texas its first Democratic governor since Ann Richards left office in 1995, and its first Latina governor.
Although surprised by the scale of the victories, Lauren said she had long believed that Texas, traditionally a Republican stronghold, could turn blue.
“I tell people all the time that, yeah, Texas is a red state, but I could see it turning blue, especially around the time I moved, because of a lot of the influence of people from California and New York.
“So it was good to see that change actually. I think more people are wising up, and I’m glad that happened for Texas because we needed it.”
She pointed to the rising cost of living, particularly fuel prices, and US involvement in overseas conflicts as reasons for voters’ dissatisfaction, including among some Republicans.
“It’s so expensive back home, especially with the fuel, and how our taxes go to wars and stuff. A lot of people wouldn’t be happy with that.”
Lauren believes frustration with Trump, rather than enthusiasm for the Democrats alone, played a major part in the result.
“I think a lot of people, including Republicans, were kind of over that and not happy with us getting into a war when he said he’d never get into one.”
After spending almost a decade in New York, she moved to Ireland with her Galway husband in March 2021. They now live in Claregalway with their two sons, Rían, three, and ten-month-old Anthony.
The host of The Galway Gal podcast says living in Ireland has changed her idea of the American dream.
“Living in Galway, I say having a peace of mind, waking up knowing that I live in a country that actually cares about citizens and wants to help citizens progress.
“I’m just so grateful to be here. And I don’t take it for granted.”
Although delighted with the results, Lauren hopes the political shift in Texas will last beyond this election.
She believes voters are tired of hearing the same political arguments.
“People want change,” she said. “They’re tired of these old rhetorics, these old dialogues.”
“I hope that this is something that can be kind of lasting.”